Monday, November 2, 2015

Our First Halloween Without Tigger

Another holiday milestone passed without Holly. I have never been much of a Halloween guy. This year I just wanted to turn the lights off and crawl in bed. Had it not been for Sophie that is exactly what I would have done. My personal feelings aside, Sophie had a great time.

It was an unbelievably beautiful day here in Colorado Springs. Earlier Sophie had her final soccer game of the fall season. When we got home after the game I thought she looked a little under the weather. After a nap and a bath she seemed to recover so we dressed her up and headed out the door.

Our neighborhood has an unbelievable amount of trick or treaters. Hundreds upon hundreds of kids.

Last year Holly had bought Sophie a mermaid costume to wear. At the last minute Sophie decided she wanted to stay home and hand out candy so the costume went unworn. Fast-forward to this year, she wanted to be the mermaid. Being the strong-minded 5 year old that she is (read as occasionally stubborn), she refused to wear the crown or the necklace that went with the costume. The best she would let me do is a pony tail and an almost matching bow.

We probably stopped at 60 houses. Sophie was very good about saying thank you and happy halloween to everyone. She did however step into the house each time the door opened. She would just walk in the door (regardless of how many times I told her not to do it). I think she just wanted a better view of the candy to choose from. It was cute for sure but we had a talk later about going into strangers houses.

There was one house that went all out (and apparently they do it every year). They had several guys running around with chainsaws (minus the chain), a driveway full of fires burning, and fireworks launching into the sky from behind the house. Super impressive. Sophie was brave and got her candy even though she said the men were, "super scary."

It was hard to get a good photo in the dark but here were two of the "scary men".

All and all it was a fun night for Sophie. It was harder for me for sure. Holly always loved Halloween. Every year she would dress up in her Tigger costume when it was time to hand out candy. She looked so adorable. She had the costume for years even before I met her. Maybe going all the way back to high school? This year for the first time in a very long time it remained on the hanger unworn in our closet. I miss my Tigger.

I am as suddenly single daddy after the unexpected death of my amazing wife Holly. I am now raising our amazing 5 year old daughter on my own and doing my best to keep her hair from looking like a complete disaster each day. This blog is my way of remember moments with Holly so Sophie can someday have a written history of her mom who loved her more than anything in this world.